The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States. The United States military was first formed during the Continental Congress and was permanently established after World War II.^[1]

Its component branches are:

• United States Army created on 14 June 1775
• United States Marine Corps created on 10 November 1775
• United States Navy created on 13 October 1775
• United States Air Force created on 18 September 1947
• United States Coast Guard created on 4 August 1790

All branches are part of the United States Uniformed Services and are under civilian control with the President serving as Commander-in-chief. All branches except the Coast Guard are part of the Department of Defense, which is under the authority of the Secretary of Defense, who is also a civilian. The Coast Guard falls under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, but during wartime, the Coast Guard is placed under the Department of Defense through the Department of the Navy.^[2]

As of June 30, 2008, about 1,427,546 people are on active duty in the military with an additional 1,458,400 people in the seven reserve components.^[3] As it is currently a volunteer military, there is no conscription. Women are not allowed to serve in some combatant positions, but they do serve in combat areas where they can and do come under enemy fire. ^[4]

Much of U.S. military capability is involved in logistics and transportation, which enable rapid buildup of forces as needed. The Air Force maintains a large fleet of C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster, and C-130 Hercules transportation aircraft with a substantial fleet of aerial refueling tankers. The Marine Corps maintains Marine Expeditionary Units at sea with the Navy's Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. The Navy's 11 active aircraft carriers, combined with a military doctrine of power projection, enables a flexible response to potential threats.

Other

Doctrines

• Full-spectrum dominance

Education and training

• United States military academies
• United States military staff colleges

People

• Awards and decorations of the United States military
• Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
• TRICARE - Health care plan for the U.S. uniformed services

Lists

• List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
• List of currently active United States military land vehicles
• List of active United States military aircraft
• List of currently active United States military watercraft

See also

See also the Uniformed services of the United States

See also the State Defense Force

References

External links

• Official U.S. Department of Defense website
• Global Security on U.S. Military Operations
• Military News
• Today's Military website
• US Military ranks and rank insignia
• Defence Talk

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